Rainbow The Books

This book is truly inspiring. When I was younger my brother Eric (who is mentioned in the book) was diagnosed with a brain tumor and later passed away. This book helped me understand what cancer did to him. This book helped me cope with the loss of my brother! This book also helped me cope with the loss of the other children mentioned in this book! Thank you very much Mara for writing this book & helping me get through this! I highly recommend anyone who has lost a loved one to cancer to read this book!

Mara expresses the same hurts, disappointments, fears, and anger that the rest of the world does when their world is ripped apart, but she tempers it with her knowledge of God's word and His neverending mercy and compassion. She is able to continue to live and give when the rest of the world might give up..... Truly inspirational!

I am probably a biased reviewer knowing the Alexander-Azlin family for about 4 years, but this book is very emotionally moving. I was teary eyed at some points, which should say a lot about the book coming from a guy who usually is an emotionless stone. I am a slow reader and usually it takes me three months to read a book, I read this 500+ page book in just over a week. You will not regret buying this book.

This book was hard to put down. Make sure you have the laundry done and the phone turned off to read this awesome book because once you start reading you won't want to stop! This tragic story of a normal American family's fight against cancer holds on to one thought from beginning to end - God will never abandon us nor stop loving us - ever! Mara's outstanding book includes her inner dialogue along with diary entries that enlighten the reader into feeling they are there with her every step of the way - the highs and the lows; the good and the bad days. This book is beautifully written and an inspiration - filled with information on the National Bone Marrow Donor Foundation as well as an account of the modern day heroes and heroines that pulled together in a time of tragedy.

When you pick up this book, you'll have a hard time putting it down. Mara is an inspirational woman and after you read her story, you will feel like you can get through anything as she has. Although it is a heartbreaking story when you finish you will have an uplifting feeling and believe as she does that God is always there for us no matter what happens to us.

This was a magical, powerful book for our son when he was learning to handle bad dreams. He kept it for years--still has it in fact, though he's long since grown. The Dream Eater is a creature who comes to the village to rid young and old of their nightmares. It's an empowering talismanic tale, simply beautifully told and illustrated. It's the kind of book that having created it, the writer and artist can both be proud of what they've done in their lives. Try it out with your child when bad dreams come. It may help you to talk about the dreams, too. Take Me With You When You Go

This was one of my favorite books growing up and became one of my daughter's as well. She's now 18 and has decided that she isn't going to share her(my) book with her little brother, who's not quite two. I have to buy another copy for him. I really don't mind all. I believe she'll end up passing this book down to her children and they can then decide who's gong to keep the book and who gets the new copy. I highly recommend this book!

this book is the best one i've ever read the baku and the dragon where sooooo cute!
the only sad part would be when the baku ate the dream about the dragon and the only scary part whould be when the baku fell into the river

This was my favorite children's book growing up. I am so excited to have found it. It is a wonderful book to read to kids.

Christian Garrison and Diane Goode did a very good job with this book. The Dream Eater is an interesting tale of a boy who lives in a town full of people who are plagued by bad dreams. The book itself is very pleasant to read, as delightful pictures match the detailed writing fluently and perfectly. The story is calming and fun to read. It makes for a great bedtime story. Wondeful for lulling young ones to a sleep with few bad dreams.

Escape from Psychiatry made me run the gamut of emotions. At times its text felt like the memoir of a holocaust survivor, revealing all manner of abuse and horror against humanity. I was mystified and intrigued, angered and repugned, saddened and humiliated. But mostly I was joyous...joyous that the invulnerable holy spirit, in all its divinity, ultimately emerges triumphant, giving hope and inspiring all who share this journey.

Clover Smith-Greene will tell you herself, she is one of the most truly blessed--she escaped the deadly clutches of psychiatry! Her remarkable recovery is a living testimony that through God's love and forgiveness anyone and everyone can heal.

Gwen Olsen, Author of Confessions of an Rx Drug Pusher

I have had the pleasure of meeting Clover and was able to spend some time getting to know her and though the book is great in person she is truly amazing. Having studied psychiatry and the effects of long term treatment I can tell you that hardly anyone makes it out and is able to function on their own. Clover has done that and was able to write and self publish her story all with the intent to help others. This book is great, it is truly a testament to one woman's strength and love for all. I would encourage you to also contact her through the info. given and support her cause, she is a real hero and a wonderful woman.

ESCAPE FROM PSYCHIATRY is a very powerful story! I am awed by Clover's strength and courage in being able to recall and relive all of her experiences of psychiatric abuse in order to write about what she went through. Her story is very important because it shows how the core of so-called "schizophrenia" often traces back to feeling desperate for love and yet very afraid of it. Mostly, however, her story documents how the pessimistic expectations that psychiatrists have for people who are extreme mental cases can become self-fulfilling prophecies for people who remain trapped as "patients" in the "mental health" system. When Clover found different people who gave her kindness, love, and hope, she recovered and healed. This is the kind of story that most psychiatrists can't stand hearing about because it shows how they contribute to the very conditions they claim they are trying to cure, and it shows that their beliefs about "chronic mental cases" can be totally wrong.

Al Siebert, Ph.D Host of the "Successful Schizophrenia" web site. Executive Director of the Kenneth Donaldson Archive for the Autobiographies of Psychiatric Survivors

This book truely touched my heart. I felt like a kindred spirit with the author. Clover's childhood reminded me so much of my own and brought back so many difficult emotions for me that I wept bitterly throughout the first five chapters. The book also gave me a complete understanding of what my mother, who died at the age of 53, went through with psychiatry and being diagnosed with manic-depressive illness. The way Clover explains feelings and behaviors she and others experienced in the book is nothing short of remarkable. I have never read a book that touched me at such a deep emotional level. This book made it impossible for me not to look deep within myself in an attempt to rescue my soul from the depths of spiritual turmoil and restlessness that I have allowed myself to fall prey to for 36 years. This book is extremely climactic in that it starts with a child that is isolated and withdrawn, being held hostage by the confines of a confused, angry, lonely, and miserable soul ultimately blooming into a beautiful, thriving, giving, understanding, accepting, and luminous spirit reaching out to help and be helped. Becoming one with all spirituality. Becoming complete. Clover, you are truely blessed. My spirit loves yours because you have the mind of Christ. Absolutely marvelous book. A must for everyone in search of self. You find it in this book because Clover holds your hand and leads you directly to it.

"Escape from Psychiatry," the autobiography of "Clover Smith" is a harrowing account of one woman's odyssey through the mental health care system of the `50s, '60s and `70s. This is not a book that can be evaluated as a piece of literature, because strictly speaking, it just isn't. But, like other first person accounts in the same vein - Frances Farmer's "Will There Really Be a Morning?" comes to mind - Clover's story is valuable for its portrayal of the shocking abuses and neglect endured by the mentally ill at the hands of psychiatrists.

From her seemingly-credible perspective, she was just a young woman cut off from emotional support who put her trust in doctors to heal her simple fears. All she desired was one person with whom to talk about her feelings of isolation and terror. Instead she was scarred and scared, literally out of her wits, by a series of "treatments" which resembled torture more closely than they did rehabilitation. At the hands of doctors she spent thirty-one years undergoing electro-shock and neuroleptic drug therapies which left her filled with increasingly justified, internal rage and external symptoms ranging from the loss of her teeth and memory to the constant muscle spasms of tardive dyskinesia - a known neurotoxic side-effect from the brain damage caused by a range of neuroleptic drugs.

She never did find a psychiatrist who wanted to talk with her, with the exception of one scurrilous egotist who also tried to bed her. Yet some preternatural strength, resident inside Clover, allowed her to outlast the convoluted mental health care system. Her recovery finally came as a result of entering an Alcoholics Anonymous program and weaning herself from the medications she instinctively knew to be toxic. She is no longer schizophrenic or paranoid, two diagnoses that may never have been accurate for her or countless others who have undergone similar treatment.

This is a very thorough, entertaining, and informative treatment of the subject of mummies. Illustrations in the book were inspired by ancient Egyptian art. This is a great book to supplement any elemenatary study of Egypt.

I think the Aliki book explains the true reality of the ancient Egyptains beliefs. I am actually writing this because I was scared of the book. I wouldn't recommend showing this to a child without telling them what to expect. The book explains about the belief involving the many gods (Osiris, Anubis, and Isis are a few) I don't want any child to be scared of the culture, but who would know?

Kids love mummies, and mine are no exception. As Aliki (the book's author/illustrator) says, "A mummy is a mystery-hidden in layers of ancient bandage, bedecked with priceless jewels." We read Mummies Made in Egypt as part of our Egyptian study when our children were 7, 10 and 11. The back cover (accurately) says the book is written for ages 8 to 12. I have to admit I loved this book as much as my children and learned a lot from it. What's great, as another reviewer has pointed out, is that it's not morbid in any way. It presents the facts, clearly and simply, accompanied by equally simple and clear illustrations. Is there a better children's illustrator than Aliki?

What a great book! The author gives really interesting information regarding mummies and how they're made. The illustrations are good too. I liked that the whole book was illustrated without real pictures of mummies as it creeps out my daughter! A great overview of the process the Egyptian priests used to mummify a person.

I must have checked it out a hundred times as a child when I was in elementary school. It is written in a beautiful and colourful comic book form. Yet is also very informitive and filled with interesting information. It gave me a fascination for mummies and ancient cultures that has lasted my whole life. Even the sensitive details are presented in a clinical, illuminating light. I would recommend this to some one of any age who has an interest in or mummies ancient egypt in general.

My two sons (Zachary and Alexander) have been saving their allowance and doing extra chores to save money for a Nintendo DS (they save half, my wife & I pay half). This has been a huge deal for them because they each really want one.

Yesterday, my wife took the boys to a bookstore, and 7 1/2 year old Zach saw Zak Smith's book based on Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow". He could not, would not put it down; he was mesmerized. He's not one to want, want, want, but this, he had to have. He looked at various and sundry art-related books for at least a half hour, and kept coming back to this book. Which was $40. After much discussion and pondering, Zach was resolute: My wife had a $16 credit at the store which she let him use and he kicked in $20 of his $27 to get the book. The point is, he gave up his Gameboy money for an art book. A big deal. He said "You know how interested I am in art, Mom!"

I've read a bit of Pynchon ("Vineland") but when I've leafed through "Granvity's Rainbow" in the past, I've thought it challenging, circular, dense. Very much like, though not so much as, the uber-interpretive "Finegan's Wake" by James Joyce (referenced, coincidentally, by Zak Smith's book). So at once I was impressed; thumbing through Zach's Zak book, even more so. It IS mesmerizing; page after page of fascinating, provoking, stirring beauty. You can get lost in there.

Not only do I now have a renewed vigor to tackle "Gravity's Rainbow", but am inspired to have (with Zach's permission) Zak Smith's profoundly astonishing book along for the cerebral roller coaster, a benevolent guide to provide dazzling clues as I navigate the former's intellectually demanding jungle.

Whether $26.37 or $39.95, worth every penny...

I'm totally blown away by this book, after seeing these drawings at the Walker I had to own it. Check out his website to see all the drawings on line.

If you live anywhere near Minneapolis get yourself over to the Walker Art Center, where every single one of Zak Smith's drawings/paintings/sculptures (yes, some are three dimensional) for this project are displayed on one wall. (All are in the permanent collection of the Walker.) How do I know it's all 750+ artworks? Because I counted. 45 columns by 17 rows. You could spend hours staring at them and not exhaust this monumental project. I'm not sure how long they'll remain on display so don't put it off.

Zak Smith a genious, and this book the best.
if you like concept ilustration, you'll love it...

and the prize it's great!

I just saw the Zak Smith exhibit at the Walker Art Center in Minn. where I had gone to see the "Picasso in America". But this Gravity's Rainbow page-by-page is, by far, the reason to go to the Walker right now. Mindboggling. Buy the book and picture each page lined up like a grid covering an entire wall. The Pynchon book is quite challenging to read so try to imagine Zak Smith capturing the concept of each and every page with a drawing or picture. Number 404 looks like an inch thick melted white plastic mess--does anyone know what happened in the book on this page? I noticed that one of the "tags" for this product is "genius." Believe it.

"Love in its myriad forms is a portal that leads to a world of peace, happiness and ecstasy. The more we are able to love ourselves and others, the more others can love us. The more we are loved, the easier it is for us to love others." ~Brent N. Hunter

THE RAINBOW BRIDGE is a book for all people who are seeking a deeper understanding of the common ground between the world's major religions. After a series of spiritual awakenings and realizations, the author decided to write a book he felt would help others who are going through a challenging time or are seeking more meaning and peace in their own lives.

Brent N. Hunter was born part Muslim, part Jewish and raised as a Christian. Through his life he has been practicing the pursuit of knowledge through spiritual studies. In this book he draws on the wisdom from Buddhism, Christianity, Earth-based traditions, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Native American traditions and Taoism.

I was especially happy to find "The Invitation" on pg. 116. It is a profound statement and draws on a deeper wisdom of the inner world. While we often become distracted by our outer lives, what really matters is the inner journey. It is a beautiful series of statements speaking about what sustains us from the inside when everything else in our lives dissolves.

Through reading this book you will also find a moment of sheer beauty. Mine occurred on page 108 when I read: "I am a star, awoken from its sleep, by the longing cries of mankind's dreams." From A Child of the Universe by Ralph-Armand Beck.

How absolutely beautiful to know that each of us are here because someone needs us to exist. The quote on pg. 115 was also especially meaningful as Trina Paulus describes what it takes to be a butterfly instead of a caterpillar.

Some of the topics include: Life, Death, Respect, Service, Karma, Love, Friendship, Mystery, Power of Now, Dedication, Devotion, Commitment, Surrender, Meditation, Ego, Change, Peaks, Valleys, Breathing, Trust, Interpretation, Discernment, Music, Listening, Patience, Forgiveness and Sharing.

The author has envisioned an international project that includes a book series, board game, television show and interactive website. This is the first book in the series which he hopes will lead humanity to a place where all beings are showered with love, compassion, happiness, joy, peace, bliss, ecstasy, appreciation, prosperity, pleasure, dedication, devotion, commitment and devotion.

"You will manifest what you focus on."

During the reading of this book, I started to wonder about a few of the statements the author made. A few pages later, I felt like I was reading an interactive book as my question was answered.

I am not yet "beyond the dualistic world" as I believe there is still right and wrong, good and evil and that you can't always make decisions from your heart. From my own experience, it does seem that if you always make decisions from your heart, you can also at times hurt people more than if you make a well-thought out decision.

It helps to balance the author's belief of making decisions from your heart by understanding the "path of the heart." If you are following certain principles, then technically you are using your mind to help your heart decide. The author discusses some of these principles.

I also appreciated how the author mentions how the media is overly focused on the ills of society and that even in our technically advanced world, we still struggle with race issues, poverty and violence. And all we really want is to be loved and to give love.

So why can't we experience this deepest desire? Why is the world filled with hate? Who can forgive us and who can help us find our way to God? While this book does not deal with the issues of personal faith or any particular faith, these ideas are worth considering in your own personal search.

The Rainbow Bridge Translation team is currently translating this book into Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. It will also eventually be translated into Farsi, Hindi, Korean and Portuguese.

I must also say that the art on the cover is perhaps the most spiritually beautiful cover I have seen. I also like the picture of the glowing emerald eyed Sphynx cat, Orion on the back cover. Brent's eyes also shine with a peaceful knowing.

"The Rainbow Bridge is a beautiful expression of the inner child's desire for world peace. It is a guide for a world seeking a deeper understanding of their current existence on a planet filled with conflict.

~The Rebecca Review

Lovely book. Great reminders of all facets of life and spirituality. Worth having and sharing.

This book is written with great wisdom and clarity. The cover entice one to read and envision life as beautiful. As a minister I will use this book along with my bible in discussion groups. As well as practice the easy recipes for life.

Reverend Wennye' Edwards

Brent has captured the wisdom for our time! This is a book that all human beings need to read, practice and hold themselves accountable.

If we all dreamed as powerfully as Brent and moved into action sharing ourselves as he does, then we would be living our dreams and not dying as a society.

Great gift for all those that you care about and some of those that you don't!

This book can help you discover your place in the universe. Or how to live a life of greater satisfaction, happiness and calm. You could read a few dozen carefully chosen books and excavate the nuggets of wisdom each contains (surrounded by pages of less meaningful prose) or you can read this compilation of similar nuggets already sifted for you. The do-it-yourself approach would likely still lack the diversity of the material here and the context the author brings from life experiences he alludes to. This is a book of many facets and each offers a different perspective on the whole. Perhaps like me you will only agree with most of the book, not all of it, but every page brings forward something important to ponder and, sometimes, a completely novel idea for living better.

Rainbow Painting touches more deeply aspect of the Mahamudra , Dzogchen practices. It gives clear clarifications of why the different points of view , Tawa , vary in the 9 Yanas.

Having been a practitioner for a while I highly recomended it.

Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche is rapidly becoming one of my favorite lamas. His teaching has the perfect balance of encouragement and challenge. This collection of teachings, while not appropriate for newcomers to Tibetan Buddhism, is very helpful for those who have been on the path for awhile.

While the author teaches in the Dzogchen tradition as he clearly explains in this book, for this reader I can see no difference between it and Zen. "Direct pointing" to that which we call mind is the essence of this book, a real "how-to-do-it" explanation. I have studied Buddhism, and Zen in particular, for over 20 years and this is one of the most helpful texts I have ever come across. I would recommend it to any serious student of Buddhism.

Too often people think that the only way to practice Buddhism is to sit and quiet or empty the mind. Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche effectively rebuts that view. Since this book was published there have been two additional volumes, both of which are excellect (5 stars). They are titled "As It Is," volumes 1 and 2.

While this book includes some exposition of standard material (usually in shortened form) such as Ngondro, tales of past gurus, etc., it also includes more advanced knowledge. The stories are fun, but I refer the reader to Jan Brunvand's many books on Urban Legends. But, the author does a lot more in 210 pages. This is NOT an introductory text--it's more advanced. The author clearly and concisely delineates the differences between approaches (yanas) but also with Mahamudra and Dzogchen. He also explains the Dzogchen view of the relationship between development and completion stages--which in the 100 or so Vajrayana books I've read, I've never heard before. And, it actually makes sense to me! Amazing. He also gives a bit of information about the relationship between Trekcho and Togal, though most of this work is more Trekcho oriented. Overall, the book is written in an easily read style, and the author uses many, many analogies to improve communications and help the reader visualize what is being transmitted. Analogies, while not actually proving anything can certainly illustrate points being made so as to elicit an understanding response from the reader. Several chapters of this book are included in "The Dzogchen Primer," but they are the more elementary ones and, IMHO, not the really fine ones. After reading some more introductory Dzogchen and/or Mahamudra books (there are lots of them out there by Norbu or Thrangu Rinpoche or others), this would be a fine book to read.

Tulku Urgyen was a fine example of a true yogi.
His devotion to his teachers shines through in these pages, and there's more to be learned here than just the verbal info.
I highly recomend keeping this book around.

An absolutely fascinating book detailing all that happened in front of and behind the CBS cameras of the ill-fated Judy Garland Show. Also, every episode of the show is examined in detail, and the author takes a straight-down-the-middle approach to the book's subject matter.

The Judy Garland Show consisted of twenty-six shows that aired in the CBS Sunday night line up in the 1963-1964 season. The network considered it an immediate and expensive failure and the series was canceled as soon as contractual obligation allowed. Isolated exceptions aside, the series was neither syndicated nor re-run and, with the exception of various "art" screenings it seemed to vanish completely.

Nonetheless, The Judy Garland remains one of the single most discussed and written-about series in broadcast history. Garland biographies aside, it is inevitably touched upon--and often focused upon--in histories of broadcast television, where it is usually held up as an example of how even the greatest talents, biggest budgets, and best intentions can be exploded by mismanagement, network politics, and in some instances pure spite.

Two major publications have focused on the series. The first was the 1970 OVER THE RAINBOW WITH JUDY GARLAND ON THE DAWN PATROL by Mel Torme, the respected singer-songwriter-composer, who contracted to write and arrange special musical material and make three guest appearances during the first season. Torme places blame for the series' failure squarely upon the shoulders of Garland herself, painting a frightening portrait of a greatly talented but extremely unstable and often vicious star self-destructing through booze and pills and determined to drag all those around her down with her. Although denounced as grossly inaccurate by many associated with the series, it was for many years generally accepted as authoritative.

The second was 1990's RAINBOW'S END by Coyne Steven Sanders. Amassed from meticulous research and seventy-five interviews with individuals directly involved in the series, it explodes DAWN PATROL with the force of an atomic bomb. Sanders freely acknowledges that Garland was a tempestuous individual with profound chemical dependencies--but his interview subjects note that, far from being difficult, she actually withstood a great deal more unpleasantness from others than she actually caused herself.

What ultimately emerges is a story of Garland's mismanagement, first at the hands of agents Begelman and Fields, then at the hands of such employees as Mel Torme, but ultimately and most destructively at the hands of CBS executives James Aubrey and Hunt Stromberg--each with their own self-serving agendas and all determined to drain The Judy Garland Show to further them. It is also a story of great talents and opportunities simply thrown away.

With the advent of DVD, The Judy Garland Show at last began to reach a wide audience, and the actual product bears out Sanders' contentions. At its best, it was extraordinary, offering not only Garland very near the peak of her vocal talents, but a host of great performers that read like a Who's Who of 1960s show business--June Allyson, Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Bobbin Darrin, Lena Horne, Ethel Merman, Peggy Lee, Jane Powell, and Barbra Streisand, to name but the most obvious, most of whom Sanders interviews to great effect. But the program was "fiddled to death" by constant CBS reformatting, too often saddled with inept writing and insipid guest stars booked on studio demand, and ultimately unable to establish any consistent formula acceptable to both Garland and CBS.

According to Sanders, Garland did indeed spiral out of control toward the end of the series--but given the madhouse into which she was thrown it is amazing that she did not run screaming down the street at the very beginning. And, as Sanders so astutely points out, she has had the last laugh after all. Few series television programs of the early 1960s, including those that bested The Judy Garland show in ratings, have survived in the public memory. But The Judy Garland Show, for all its flaws and faults, seems to become more greatly respected with each passing year.

After reading Sander's meticulously documented assessment of The Judy Garland Show, you'll never again look at broadcast television with quite the same eye. Very strongly recommended, not only for Garland fans, but for any one with an interest in the medium.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Over the years I have read every book about JUDY and excluding the 'book' written by Mel Torme' many have been decent. But, not until this book has the talent, the class, the POWER that was JUDY GARLAND been properly conveyed!The book is informative about what went on in front of and behind the scenes of THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW. But also, it shows how at certain points JUDY wanted certain things done a certain way for a specific reason!!! Case in point, her singing 'THE BATTLE HYMM OF THE REPUBLIC'. She knew why it had to be done, she knew how it had to be done, and she knew that it had to be done!!!! AND SHE DID IT!!!! And what 'we' see on video during that performance is what JUDY was, is, and always will be!!! A performer who should have been left to do what she did-SING!And reading this book, you'll see why she is what she is, and how she got what will always be hers! LEGEND!!!!

This book, which accompanies the box set (Vol 1) of Judy's TV series, is an invaluable resource for any serious Judy Garland fan. The writing is clear and concise, the approach is objective (but with great empathy for Judy), and the research conducted by the author is impressive. Until this book was written, the only documented history of this landmark TV show was the book written by Mel Torme, which was mean-spirited and by no means a balanced account of what really went on. Congratulations and much gratitude to Mr. Sanders for a very memorable read.

Coyne Steven Sanders is, undeniably, _under_ the rainbow with this treatment of Ms. Judy Garland. In a good sense. First, one must respond to the treatment here of Micky Rooney, without whom we would still probably be responding to Ms. Garland in the same way. In the birth of the cliche, there is a moment when the idea itself is not a cliche but is instead an archetype. In this way cliches are to be honored as original ideas so fitting to such a large number of {events} that they become, through no fault of their own, a cliche. Sadly, this treatment of Micky Rooney in relation to Ms. Garland does not recognize the fact that Mr.Rooney was a cliche _from the beginning_. He personified the cliche by occupying one from the moment he embarked on his character--the same wide-eyed, over-eager, lifelessly hyperbolic grating dunce he dusted off every time the cameras were stupid enough to have him within their frame. If only Steven Sanders would have bitten into this none-too-tender tendril of the gas that was Micky Rooney! Instead, it is waived away like a bad odor that the reader imagined should have dissipated 5 minutes earlier. By failing to contextualize Ms. Garland within this necessary border, Coyne Steven Sanders renders a full quarter of this book into a wide pie of plums and pits; into a full line of outergarments best suited for intemperate climes. Three cheers for Coyne! Because, after all, this author is able to, in this book, show us why we should all, as I do, love Judy Garland with each breath we take. I love her. Yes. I love this book, and I love Judy Garland.

My 3 year old daughter adopted from China loves this book, she is a little too impatient for the written story nightly but requests the book over and over for the pictures-while she makes up her own story to go along with the pictures. She loves going on about the mommy and daddy in the story and how she had a picture book sent to her and then she flew on a plane just like in the story. She makes this story her own.

I have an adopted daughter from Korea and we have many, many books on adoption. This is the best one I've found - it describes so well the experience my daughter, and we had, and makes me cry every time I read it. I've found it helpful not only for her but for her friends and classmates to understand her experience.

As a parent of two wonderful Korean boys, this book is a fantastic story of a child's travel to be with his forever family. I read this book for the children's story at my church on my son's first Coming to America Day (the anniversary of his arrival) and the response was wonderful. My sons really enjoy listening to this story and it has provided an avenue for us to talk about their adoption adventure and the plane ride from Korea to the United States. I high recommend this book. It is a must own book for parents of international adoptees.

Flying across the world to become part of a new family can be scary but wonderful at the same time, as told by a little boy in this story. I liked that it does star a boy rather than a boy, like many adoption stories do. The story is written in simple understandable language and the illustrations are soft but filled with detail to interest young readers. The little expresses some of his feelings about adoption and I am sure many young adopted readers will find themselves relating with his thoughts. This is a good one.

Children adopted overseas adore this story, regardless of their country of origin. It is especially helpful for children adopted at an older age.

Having a home and a permanent family is wonderful, of course. But older children don't know that when they come home. They are often angry at being uprooted and taken to strange new places, where people speak a foreign toungue. They are understandably frightened. So many new things in the early days assault their senses that days can seem like a lifetime.

This soothing story eases the pain of that transition. It helps them to know that they are wanted, waited for, and loved, even before they arrive. It eases the terrible pain of the transition. If you buy no other adoption story for your internationally adopted child, make it this one. Alyssa A. Lappen

World Trek A Family Odyssey by Russell and Carla Fisher

When a friend passed on this travel book to me I was very interested as I am a reasonably seasoned traveler myself and it boggled my mind to think of a family of four (including two teenagers) putting their lives on hold to go on a year long adventure. And what an adventure it turned out to be! This is not just a travel book ; it gives a detailed description of the year long planning that was necessary before the trip. Most people would balk at the idea of taking their children out of school for a year, closing up their house and putting things in storage but Russell and Carla Fisher have shown us that a trip like this is within reach of anyone. It doesn't have to be just a dream; it could turn out to be the dream of a lifetime as it was for them. Very useful planning and budget details are given in the Appendices.

During their trip they visited many of the usual tourist spots but were not afraid to go off the beaten track to explore lesser known places which almost invariably turned out to be most interesting and enjoyable and often surpassed their expectations. A less adventurous traveler will be inspired by their narrative.

It was interesting to see how much fun a family can have while traveling on a budget. Indeed, traveling on a budget gave them better and more honest insights into people and places. I enjoyed their spirit of adventure and thoroughly enjoyed my vicarious journey around the world with them, even when they came upon difficult situations. I wish them good luck with their future travels.

It is difficult to imagine the courage it takes to put your life on hold for one year, sacrificing careers that have taken years to come to fruition, and venture into the unknown for a once in a lifetime experience. The story of this family and their adventure around the globe is an inspiration to all of us who have dreamed of escaping the routine lives we know so well to seek out what the world has to offer. This book reveals the joy and passion of jumping out the norm and following your distant dreams to the wonderous places that they will take you...not knowing what is around the next corner (of the world!) It was a sensory pleasure to discover each new culture and it's offerings along with this mainstream American family who openly shares their excitement and challenges throughout their journey. It was a delight!

Whether you're planning a long trip around the world or a much shorter excursion, "WorldTrek: A Family Odyssey" will not disappoint. This book is a gem. Russell and Carla Fisher and their two daughters travel an entire year to nineteen different countries around the world. The book is well written and easy to read with each stop described in concise and imaginative prose. For those wanting travel tips, "WorldTrek" offers ideas on what to see, how to get there, where to stay, how to pack, and how to stay healthy all within a reasonable budget. In addition, extensive planning ideas and other travel resources are listed in the appendices.

"WorldTrek" is not just a book for those interested in travel. It's an inspiring story about an ordinary family who did an extraordinary thing with their lives. The Fishers did what is unthinkable to most of us. They quit their jobs and took their daughters around the world for a year, home schooling them along the way while giving them an education that no amount of study could possibly provide. Their adventure required a lot of planning, but planning alone did not make it happen. Through their courage and willingness to risk, the Fisher family reminds us that it's possible to turn dreams into reality. Their expansive outlook and passion for seeking opportunities are lessons the reader can apply to his or her own travels as well as many other areas in life.

I enjoyed the story as well as the information. I've recommended the book to family and friends who are planning an overseas trip for the great resource section of the book. I've recommended the book to family and friends who have never traveled overseas for the opportunity to vicariously visit wonderfully exotic locations with the Fisher family.
Get this book to learn how to plan a trip or to learn about places you wish you could travel to. You will be inspired.

This book is a witty blend of honest, practical travel information, and descriptive snapshots of settings that are as paintings, sprinkled with historical facts and hysterical situations that made me laugh out loud, all making the book a quick, enjoyable read.

I recommend the book for anyone who has traveled or is about to travel to any of these places from his family's journey.